The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-28
NATURAL GAS.

Prof. y. 8. Shnler Discusses 1ts Production
and Durability Of supply Ia the "f'oran."
Professor N. s. shaler, In his article in
the current number Of the Forum on
"The Natural Gaa Supply" begins, as do
moat writer's with the discovery and use Of
gas at Fredonis, N. y, In 1921, and moves
quickly over the ground 10 tho use Of
natural gas fuel 10 make iron In Arm.
etropg county in 1876. Tho csuso Of the
slownesa of people 10 take advantage OF
gas 10 a fuel Is believed 10 DO tina. initial
experiments with II were for illuminating
instead Of heating purposes. q"
Now that the fuel Is In uae Prof.. ShRler
notes the industrial changes Ito cheepness
Is eGecting, the decline in the iron works
Of Massachusetts and OF other parts OF the
country that compete with the gas Ola.
trict being inntsnced as proof.
The origin Of natural gaa aud the dur.
ability Of it's supply are then considered,
and concerning the latter Prof. shaler ia
pesaimis.ic. IIe considers the general
source oil supply 10 be tho deposits Of
animal and vegetable substances on the
SEQ floors Of former agea, the changes in
the earth'B crust by upheavels bringing
them into their present position. The
manner OF the retention OF the gas In each
reservoir IL described In accordance with
generally accepted views. 1t Is consider.
cd likely that tho Missiasippi Valley Sec
| ton oil tho country, and but small part
OF 1t, can he alone looked TO as a field OF
supply in any qusntities, the eastern slope
OF the AppalschiaDs aud the country from
tho Rocky Mountains west having been
subjected to geological pressure and up.
heavels such as would undoubtedly expe]
the gls. Prof. Shaler believes the discov.
cred gas zelda are being rapidly exhaust
cd, and that State ownership or control OF
the gas fields by capitalists who shall
operate them economically and conserva.
lively ore the only things that can prevent
Bcandalous waste. Our private ownership
OF land he considers tho greateat enemy OF
the durability OF the supply.
| Prof. Shaler notes the theory Of the con.
tinuous production OF COS, but quotes 9TH
ere familiar with the subject to show that
this contribution is too blow to materially
affect the process Of exhaustion. Ho
He fesrs, therefore, that large part OF
the capital engaged in supplying gas may
BIO lost.
Another interesting point IN the artic.o
is this:
Atpresent the uae OF natural gas, nv
reducing tho cost OF certain manufactured
srticlee, is adordipg the producers Of
these goods m advantage over foreign
competitors. It ssens probable that the
chespening Of manufactured iron due to
this new source Of fuel supply may open
TO US foreign markets from which We arc
now excluded. 1t is, therefore, interest
ing to conhiGer whether, in other coun.
tries, this qua is likely TO be found in large
quantities. Itsppears probsbls thst mono
OF the great seats OF manufacturing iuduE-
try il. Western Europe arc likely
10 find any aources OF supply OF rock gas
sufficiently extensive 10 prove OF value
Eastern Europe and all the great tract OF
uudisturbed st.stitied rocks in Northern
Asia sre likely to afford supplies Of
natural gas similar to our own. In other
parts OF Asia, IS well rs on the other con.
tinents, Africa, South America and Aus
tralia, it eeems probable that there may
be abundant stores OF this material. But
30 far CO the development o. this RESOURCE
eau be determined by the general seoIogi-
cal conditions Of the countries, it does
nos appear likely that large supplies OF
natural gas may be reckoned on in any
Of the industrial centres OF the Old World.
Therefore this particular commercial ad.
vantsge ia likely ior the present to retein
a peculiar possession OF our American
manufacturer.
The fGcs mat records were not kept o.
the finding Of gas in wells bored in earlier
days OF oil ia source OF regret to Prof.
Shaler, and he states it will cost millione
OF dollars TO secure the Important statistics
thus loHt. The work OF the United States
geological survey TO obtain full Informs
on the subject OF the distribution OF
natural gas Is strongly commended.